Breaking new Politicial Parties And Internal Democracy

IN modern societies, the application of the concept of internal democracy in the conduct of the business of political parties, particularly with regards to primary elections, is inviolable and, therefore, sacrosanct.
The concept of internal democracy operates on the premise of due process, fair play, equity and good conscience in the discharge of duties and obligations to organizations, groups or the society at large.
Within the fold of most political parties in Nigeria, however, internal democracy as a concept seems to be honoured more in the breach as primordial considerations such as avarice, greed, nepotism and outright inordinate ambition, have continued to be elevated over and above the wishes of the people.
This, no doubt, explains the endless cases of cross-carpeting by party members who, aggrieved by obvious injustice meted out to them by some powerful persons, have no option than to seek their political fortunes elsewhere.
While we are not oblivious of the fact that some decampees may not be anything more than political flirts, it is our firm belief that a preponderance of cross-carpeting is rooted firmly in reaction to the circumvention of rules and other acts prejudicial and, indeed, inimical to the enthronement and sustenance of internal democracy.
Cases abound today of questionable substitution, disqualification and reversal of nomination of previously screened and cleared candidates by an interplay of party intrigues, naked power display, culture of impunity and disregard for fair play and internal democracy.
It is against this backdrop that the call by the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo, on political parties to work assiduously to enthrone internal democracy becomes more imperative than ever before.
We totally agree with the Vice President and, indeed, all advocates of internal democracy, that for democracy to gather the relevant momentum and truly impact on the ordinary citizen, there is the inexorable need for political parties as the theatre for the nurturing of elective public officers, to purge themselves of the culture of impunity, and anti-democratic dispositions.
We also believe that democracy, like charity, should begin at home and political parties ought to have imbibed the concept of democracy internally and not through the back door. Back door democracy will only produce back door exponents, the direct and natural consequence of which is to keep the society perpetually at the back door.
Absence of internal democracy in the affairs of political parties robs the society of competent, diligent and transparent leadership as products of unjust and undemocratic leaders can only give what they have.
The world is rapidly changing with global best practices and Nigeria as a member of the global community cannot afford to lag behind.